December 19, 2022, Janakpur, Nepal– GGGI hosted a validation workshop to discuss the results of risk and vulnerability assessments for 10 selected municipalities in Dhanusha and Mahottari districts. These assessments were conducted as part of the KOICA-GGGI climate-smart agriculture project, which aims to reduce vulnerability and improve food and job security in the Terai Flood Plain region through the widespread adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices.
Facilitated by Dr. Nirmal K Bishwokarma, Risk and Vulnerability Consultant, GGGI, the workshop was participated by 46 individuals representing mayors, deputy mayors, chief administrative officers from 10 selected municipalities, chief of Agriculture Knowledge Centres (AKCs), District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOCs) and representatives from development agencies like United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and others. During the workshop, the attendees discussed on the background of the study, climate change incidence in Nepal and Madhesh province, and the methodology used in the assessments. There were also discussions on major findings, including climate change scenarios, ward-level climate-induced hazards, exposure and sensitivity, and vulnerability and adaptive capacity.
The objectives of the workshop were to share the major findings of the risk and vulnerability assessments, gather input from stakeholders through discussions and remarks, and develop a common understanding among all attendees.
During the workshop, Jay Kumar Yadav, mayor of Mukhiyapatti Musharniya Rural Municipality stated that conventionally, instead of disbursing budget on much needed technologies, improved seed varieties, and soil testing, a huge amount of budget is allocated for only chemical fertilizers, causing problems like haphazard and hazardous use of chemical fertilizers as farmers are using them without proper soil test. Further, Mr. Kamlesh Kumar Yadav, proprietor of Vision Multipurpose Agriculture Farm added that the scarcity of chemical fertilizers, the pervasive complaint of farmers, could be resolved by farmers themselves by raising more livestock and focusing on cow urine management as well as farmyard manure could make farmers independent for fertilizers.
GGGI staff based in Janakpur will follow up with municipality officials and stakeholders to identify the most vulnerable households and farmers in the targeted areas and support them in implementing climate-smart agriculture practices. The risk and vulnerability mapping developed by the expert will also assist municipalities in their annual planning and resource leveraging for the project.